I'm trying to get a warmer, fatter snare sound but I'm getting a sound that is a little too flabby (loose and ringy), and a bit more out of tune than fat. I've experimented with a couple different snares and tunings. The best luck I'm having is with a black brass 14 X 6.5. I have been loosely taping a leather wallet over the rim and slightly touching the head to reduce the ring. Not bad but just a tad loose, but If I tighten any more it starts to become the tight snare sound.

I'm getting to much ring in the snare mic and a loose and out of tune head in the overheads.

I've heard most recording techs/engineers say "tight is better" and "crank it down with rim shots on every strike......"

If that is the case, how are engineers and producers getting that nice dry, fat, and intimate sound?

One thing that wll help is a real consistent drummer. Grab some big sticks..... 2B Rock.... whatever. Tune the drum pretty loose with a little bit of muffling. If you've got a dynamic mic that is a little bottom heavy, try it out. I'll use a ATM63HE, got the snap of a 57, with less honk and more balls. Light compression going in.... thats that.... Oh yeah. a nice room would help too. You should try to get some of the sound from a room mic.

So,
Big Ass snare.
Big ass sticks,
Play it hard
choose the right mic

salt and pepper to taste.

Thats just me. it seems illogical to crank the skin if you want a fat, big sound.

I have tried a couple snare mics (i5 and SM57) in every position possible. I have also used the Evans Dry head on the maple snare and I like it. I haven't changed heads on the brass yet. I do love the ring at times, but I also want a dryer sound too. I also like looser snares and hate the sound of tight (chocked) snares, (although I was messing around with the tightness of the wires the other day "while the hard drive was rolling" and even though the looser snares sounded better "in the room", it recorded better with tighter snares.....?????

I hate the idea of smothering the drum with tape or towels, but maybe a bit more dampening is the answer. I would rather get it right going in than have to go crazy with EQ, etc....

Thats my basic setup.... Wallet taped to the head of 14X6.5 (Black Brass.... very similar to a Black Beauty)

Doh..I didnt catch that in your post until second read. Ok if you are still having issues, I would reccoemnd paying a guy who tunes drums to come out for an hour or so and see if he can do it with that snare. It should cost you less then 100 bucks, and it be well worth the investment, because he can show you exactly what to do..especially if you have audio examples.

If you're getting alot of ring or alot of the of the top head, try this, take you're microphone and instead of pointing it down at the snare head place the mic as if you're micing the shell. Then raise it so maybe half the capsule is poking over the top of the head. Also I recommend the mic being back from the rim about an inch. Take a second mic and point it at the shell, down lower on the drum. Adjust the phase if need be, voila! very little head and a nice snappy sound. If you're still getting some ringing
you can try alittle moongel, but this should get you there

If you're getting alot of ring or alot of the of the top head, try this, take you're microphone and instead of pointing it down at the snare head place the mic as if you're micing the shell. Then raise it so maybe half the capsule is poking over the top of the head. Also I recommend the mic being back from the rim about an inch. Take a second mic and point it at the shell, down lower on the drum. Adjust the phase if need be, voila! very little head and a nice snappy sound. If you're still getting some ringing
you can try alittle moongel, but this should get you there

Thanks, I'll try that. Is that 2nd mic a side technique as well? Do you mean place it closer to bottom head but pointed at the shell and perpendicular to the shell.

yeah..200hz is your friend..Also, if you are getting it right during micing, if you look at it through a spectrum when tracking (no sub for your ears, but humor me) you will see a lot of energy in that 200hz area when the snare is nice and fat like you are describing.

Thanks, I'll try that. Is that 2nd mic a side technique as well? Do you mean place it closer to bottom head but pointed at the shell and perpendicular to the shell.

Since you're actually micing the shell with the second mic, absolutely. What I prefer about the shell mic is you get none of that rattiness that you do with the under the snare mic. Dont forget to check phase!!!

Evan's E-Rings work the best for me. Remo also makes their RemOs. Just little plastic rings that lay on the head. I find that they muffle but dont kill the the tone. I use them on all my toms as well. Just nice punchy tone.

capture it as best as you can then eq. try a wide cut, yes folks a wide cut around 500hz by like 2 or 3 db then do a tiny narrow boost around the 250 hz then go back up the top and boost around 8mhz for some snap and brightness. if you have to put a small panned delay on itMySpace.com - www.myspace.com/feedbackproductions

1.properly tune the snare (I like the bottom head to be tuned a half step lower, with a slightly tighter "basket")
2.pull the mic (beyer m160, 57, i5) back slightly (3-4")
3.aim it to where the strikes are (thin, coated heads)
4.use an API 512
5.medium attack on compressor (1176)
6.fast release if I want more snare side sound
7.slow release if I want less snare side sound
8.add a little top end (5k or so)
9.boost around 180-250hz (slight dip around 500hz in some cases)
10. use a nice plate reverb on the OH mics or simply record in a great room

I've been trying to get a fat slap sound out of the snare. I'm against EQing the snare if you're using plug ins. Try this: tune the snare (as always) and use an SM57 or a ribbon mic like the Apex 205. Then put a LDC under the snare. Then put a little piece of tape and maybe a bit of kleenex on the top head. Don't put too much or it will kill the slappiness. Use a compressor but make sure it's a bright compressor not a dark one. For me this means using my FMR RNC over my ART PRO VLA. I think that a mic on the snare of the snare will help you get a brighter sound. Make sure that you're tuning the snare to be fat WITHIN a certain reasonable amount. All snares have an ideal tuning and you can only adjust them so much away from that before they start sounding ugly. I don't know how much access you have to snares but piccolo snares give a nice "whap". If you're going for a fat sound (whatever that means), maybe you want a nicely tuned deep snare. Good luck... as with all acoustic instruments, I recommend to try to get the best sound you can before EQ, because low end EQ sounds just plain bad.